scarth



2 Sheets-Sheet 1. J. W. SOARTH & W,. A. THORNTON. APPARATUS FORGBN'ERATING AOETYLENE GAS.

(No Eodel.)

Patented June 7, 1898.

(No Modei.) 2 SihGetk-Sheef 2. J. W. SGARTH 8v W. A. THORNTON. APPARATUS FOR GBNERATING ACETYLENE GAS.

Patented June 7,1898.

m: Nonms wzrens' no. wormuma. max-ammo. n. c.

PATENT; OFFICE JOHN WILLIAM SCARTH, OF PUDSEY, AND WILLIAM ARTHUR THORNTON,

- OF WETHERBY, ENGLAND.

APPARATUS FOR GENERATING ACETYLENE GAS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No; 605,137, dated June *7, 1898.

Application filed October 25, 1897.. Serial No. 656,339. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JOHN WILLIAM SOARTH, residing at Pudsey, and WILLIAM ARTHUR THORNTON, residing at Wetherby, in the county of York, England, subjects of the Queen of Great Britain, have invented new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for the Generation of Acetylene Gas and Like Purposes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in means or apparatus employed for generating up the charges of calcium carbid, which is or are placed in the generator in cartridge form, so as (a) to prevent the lime or carbid from blocking or stopping the water-supply pipe, (b) providing an easy, simple, cleanly, and quick means forrecharging the generator, especially in the case of table-lamps, thereby preventing waste of carbid and any unpleasant odor arising from the pieces of carbid being left about the table or floor or other place and becomingdamp, and (o)'the safety of the charges isinsured by inclosing them in Waterproof tins or casings, which prevents any danger ofe'xplosion from the carbid becoming damp and'generating gas, only one charge being takenoutof its inclosing case at the same time and then only immediately before being placedin the generator. We attain these objects by mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which.

Figure 1 is a vertical section of the entire apparatus; Fig; 2, an elevation drawn at a right angle to Fig. 1; Fig. 3', anelevation of a carbid holder and cartridge; Fig.4, a vertical section of carbid' cartridge'; Fig. 5, a reduced part plan of water-cylinder with a generator arrangedfwithin an external recess.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the severalviews.

A is the gas-holder, which is closed at the side and top, but is open at the bottom. The

gas-holder A is inclosed within a longer Water-cylinder B, with or Without a top or removable cover B. The gas-holder and watercylinder may be made of any suitable material, such as metal, and of any convenient shape, such as round, square, hexagonal, or other contour. In the top of the gas-holder is provided a recess, hereinafter termed the 'hollow cap 0, which extends to a height,

say, for example, slightly above the level of the water (shown at Fig. 1 by dotted line D) in the water-cylinder.

E is the generator, which is arranged at any suitable distance from and on the outside of the water-cylinder. The generator is preferably arranged close to the water-cylinder, or it may be arranged within a recess B as shown at Fig. 5.

The generator E consists of a cylinder or other shaped vessel closed at the bottom and provided with a removable lid or cover E, which is secured in position by a handscrew F, passing'through a nut formed in a bridge G, capable of being moved in and out of position as circumstances require. The generator E is preferably water-jacketed at H, and the upper and lower ends of the waterjacket are placed in communication with the water-cylinder by means of the short pipes or tubes h h.

The generator E contains the carbid-holder I, which is made to fit or pass within the generator.

' The carbid-holderl may consist of a cylinder or other vessel, say, of Wire, or preferably perforated sheet metal, or it may be made in skeleton form, as shown at Fig. 3,

consisting of any desired number of uprights bound together byfanydesired numberof and is carried up to within a suitable distance of its top, but below the water-level D, when the gas-holder is in its normal position. The pipe J is provided, say near the generator E, with a stop-cock or valve J for cuttingoff the water-supply from the cylinder to the generator. A second pipe, hereinafter called the gas-pipe K, passes from the upper end of the generator E, as presently described, to the upper part of the before-mentioned hollow cap C. The gas-pipe K immediately on. passing from the generator E is first led upward for a short distance above the level of the water-line D in the water-cylinder, and it may be provided in either the ascending or descendingln'anch thereof with a stop-cock L of any ordinary and suitable construction, (shown at Fig. 1 011 the ascending branch,) or in place of the stop-cock, or in addition thereto, the descending branch of the gas pipe K maybe made in two separate portions lt- Ic, as shown at Fig. 1, the lower end of the portion 7. dipping below the level of the water in a small closed cylindrical or other shaped vessel, hereinafter referred to and termed the water-lock M. The upper end of the lower portion 7;. of the gas-pipe K is arranged to terminate in and near to the top of the said closed vessel forming the water-lock M.

Provision is made in the top of the waterlock V for the admission of water to its interior. The water forming the water-lock is arranged to cover the end of pipe 7.1, say, about two inches, more or less, according to the size of the vessel M. \Vhen the lid E is removed, the pressure of the gas in the holder A forces the water in the closed vessel M up the pipe It, and by reason of the latter being smaller in diameter or of smaller area than the closed vessel M the pressure of the column of water in the pipe 7.: is increased, and thereby forms a complete and certain seal for preventing the gas escaping from the holder A and returning to the generator E.

To prevent the condensation of the gas or water carried by the gas forming a water-lock in the horizontal portion of the pipe K, it may be provided with a siphon-tap of ordinary construction, or a branch pipe K armed with a stop-cock, may be provided for connecting this portion of the pipe K with the collectorbox 0. By this means the water may be readily removed from the horizontal portion of the pipe K.

From near the top of the interior of the before-mentioned hollow cap 0 a second pipe, preferably formed as a coil and hereinafter referred to as the condenser-pipe N, passes down through the water in the gas-holder A to the upper part of a closed vesssel O of any suitable size and shape conveniently attached, say, to the under side of the bottom of the water-cylinder l3 and hereinafter called the collector-box. The gas-supply pipe 1 to the burners is taken .from the upper part of the collector-box O and may be armed with a valve or stop-cock Q of any ordinary and suitable construction.

The upper part of the gas-holder is formed with false conical or tapering sides or is lined with a wood or other packing to form a displacer R. \Vhen a circular gasholder is employed, the displacer may be made in one piece, and the orifice at the top would be smaller than it is at the bottom. In crosssection its sides would then be cun eiform, and they are arranged with their largest portions against the top of the gas-holder, as shown at Fig. 1. As the gas-holder and displacer rise in the water-cylinder there will be an upward gradually-increasing size of the space for the gas within the gas-holder. Consequently the displacement of the water by the downward movement of the gas-holder increases at a much greater ratio than the increase of depth or movement of the gas-holder.

A funnel-shaped water-supply inlet S at the side of the watercylinder and an opening or hole .9 are provided in the side of the watercylinder for comnntnieation therewith.

T is an overflow-pipe attached to the funnel v A discharge-cock U is fitted to the bottom of the generator.

The case or cover or bag, all of which are hereinafter termed and included in the term case V, in which the carbid-cartridgo or charge, which is hereinafter termed the charge, is placed, may be made of any suit able woven or manufactured fabric or material-such as, for example, say, of muslin of any desired mesh and strengthor of any suitable porous materialas, say, blottingpaper-or of any suitable perforated materialas, say, cardboard or the like, but preferably of muslin or cardboard. The case may be made to suit or conform to the inner shape or contour of the inner perforated or other holder of the generator, and it may, if desired, be provided and strengthened at the sides and bottom with one or more strands or thicknesses or pieces \V of cloth, tape, wire, or equivalent material. To the top of the case may be attached by any suitable means a ring, hoop, loop, or its equivalent, all of which are hereinafter included in the term loop Y, made of any suitable material such as, say, metal, tape, or the likefor enabling the charge to be inserted in or withdrawn from the holder I of the generator E. A simple way of strengthening the sides and bottom, so as to prevent the charge forcing its way through the case V, falling into the lower part of the generator it, and stopping up the water-pipe J', is to secure, by sewing or otherwise, one or more strips of tape to the sides of the case V and under its bottom, as shown at Fig. t, with or without an additional thickness of, say, cloth at the bottom of the ease, and to unite the ends of the tape \V at the top to form the loop Y; or, if so desired, the wire strands I and rings t'may be incorporated in or secured to the case V. The casing may also be provided with draw-strings Z for closing its aperture or mouth, as shown by dotted lines at Fig. 3. \Vhen placing the calcium carbid (which is broken or powdered in or to any suitable size) within the case, care should be taken to eo5,1s7 a avoid quite filling it, (say from one-half to three-fourths full will be found sufficient,) so as to provide room for the expansion of the calcium carbid during the generation of gas. These charges, formed'into cartridges-as herein described, may be either placed severally in a suitable water-tight tin or other casing, or they are each separately placed in one tin or casing, or they may,'if desired, be covered with thin sheet india-rubber or any other suitable waterproof material and securely folded and sealed in any suitable manner. This latter method is only preferable when more than one charge is contained in one tin or case or when the tin is dispensed with.

The action of theapparatus is as follows: The charge contained in the case V is placed in the holder I of thegenerator E and its lid E secured in position by the hand-screw F after the bridge G has been turned into position. The water-cylinderB is filled through funnel S and opening 8 with water up to the water-level D, and the level of the water in the gas-holder then reaches closeto the top of the water-pipe J. On opening the supplypipe P to theburners- (not shown in the drawings) the gas previously generated and stored in the upper part of the gas-holder A passes down, through the condenser-pipe N, thereby allowing the gas-holder A to descend. In doin g so the displacer R causes the water to rise in the gas-holder and overflow down the waterpipe J to the lower part of the generator E,

, mouth of the water-pipe, stopping the watersupply and the generation of gas.

eration of gas, however, does not cease immediately if there is a considerable quantity of water in the pipe, and this suffices to reach thelevel of the undecomposed carbid. By closing the before-mentioned stop-cock L or by the automatic closing of the water-lock M, which is eifected by the pressure of the gas from the holder A forcing a portion of the water in the closed vessel M up the pipe is, as previously described, the gas generated may be prevented from passing direct to the gas-holder and exercisinga back pressure on the water in the generator it forces the Water back below the undecomposed carbid into the water-pipe. The cock L or the water-lock M also serves the purpose of preventing a back flowof gas from the holder to the generator, which provision is necessary to prevent the gas escaping back from the gas-holder when the generator is being recharged.

By the use of the herein-described apparatus the following advantages are secured in The genparatus, and that when the gas is burning.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said invention, what we claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

In apparatus for generating acetylene gas from calcium carbid, the combination of the gas-holder A inclosed within a water-cylinder B partially filled with water and provided with an inlet-funnel S and overflow-pipe T, a gas: chamber 0 in top of the said gas-holder, a conical displacer R arranged within the said gas-holder near its top, a gas-generatin g ch amber E arranged at the side of the said watercylinder, closed at its top by lid E and provided with a water-jacket H in communication at its top and bottom by means of pipes 72. h with the said water-cylinder, bridge G and screw F for retaining the lid E in position, perforated carbid-holder I inserted within the generator E, a cartridge -case V constructed as described, and provided at its base and sides with strengthening-pieces W and at its top with a loop Y, for receiving the charge of calcium carbid, water-pipe J communicating respectively with the bottom of generator E, and interior of the gas-holder A, and armed with a stop-cock J, gas-pipe K divided intotwo portions, one of which is armed with a stop-cock L, said gas-pipe being in communication at its extreme ends respectively with the gas-chamber O and top of the generating-chamber I, a water-lockM interposed between the extremities of the said gas-pipe for receiving the divided ends, a gas cooling coil N in communication with the gaschamber 0 and a collecting-box, a collectingbox 0 arranged at the base of the water-cylinder, a service-pipe P armed with a stop-cock Q in communication with said collecting-box, and a discharge-cock U arranged at the bottom of the generator, all arranged and operating as set forth.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto signed our names to this specification in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN WILLIAM SCARTH.

Witnesses WILLIAM SADLER, FLORENCE WARD.

WILLIAM ARTHUR rnoan'ronf 

